Livestock development officer held for graft

Thane: A livestock development officer was arrested for allegedly taking bribe while property worth Rs 56.15 lakh, disproportionate to his known sources of income, was found at his premises during a search, ACB said today.

Bhagwan K Patil (32), the livestock development officer at Murbad in Thane district, was arrested on Tuesday by the Anti-Corruption Bureau following allegations of corruption against him.

Later, when the ACB sleuths carried out search at his premises on Tuesday night and yesterday, they found that he owned two flats, one each in Kalyan and Wada, three shops in Kudus of Wada, gold weighing 100 gms, a motorcycle, Rs one lakh cash and balances in different bank accounts worth Rs 3,47,212, Thane unit’s SP ACB Datta Karale said.

The total property and cash found was worth Rs 56,15,672, he said.

Patil was arrested for allegedly taking bribe from a beneficiary of a government scheme, Additional SP, ACB, Srinivas Ghatge said.

The complainant (beneficiary) was sanctioned Rs 64,000 for the newest cattle rearing work. He received the first installment of Rs 15,000 by cheque.

However, Patil later allegedly took the complainant’s signature on a voucher of Rs 45,000 and made a cash payment of Rs 38,000 only on Tuesday, and kept Rs 7,000 with him, the ACB said.

The arrested officer has been charged under sections 7, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, Ghatge said.